Omoso is a senior majoring in performing arts whose emphasis is in technical theater/lighting design. A lighting technician with 22 years of experience in her native Japan, primarily in rock-and-roll, she brings her professional knowledge and experience to her student assistant position in the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Omoso said the $750 scholarship gives her the opportunity to study American lighting systems. “If I did not obtain the Performing Arts Center Scholarship, I would have to go back to Japan and wouldn’t be able to study the performing arts at UH Hilo any longer."

The scholarship was established in 2007 by Larry Joseph, the former PAC manager, and Jan Higashi, PAC advisory committee chair. It is funded through the Name-a-Seat fundraising campaign and PAC’s annual fundraiser, the Girls’ Day Diva Festival.

“The Girls’ Day Diva Festival, conceived of and organized by Jan Higashi, has been one of the leading contributors to the PAC Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said PAC Manager Lee Dombroski. “The Girls’ Day Diva Festival contributes an expendable portion to the scholarship fund as well as a portion to the scholarship endowment fund, thus growing our capabilities to award larger scholarships in coming years."

“The support of our community and locally owned and operated businesses and the tireless effort of the planning committee are what have made the Girls’ Day Diva Festival such a successful event year after year,” she added. “This support, in part, ensures opportunities for future generations of performing arts students at UH Hilo.”